Neuropeptide Y: Potential role in recurrent developmental seizures

Abstract

Seizures induce profound plastic changes in the brain, including altered expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and its receptors. Here I discuss a potential role of NPY plasticity in the developmental brain: In a rat model of febrile seizures (FS), the most common type of seizures in infants and young children, NPY expression was up-regulated in hippocampus after experimentally-induced FS. Interestingly, NPY up-regulation was associated with an increased seizure threshold for additional (recurrent) FS, and this effect was abolished when an antagonist against NPY receptor type 2 was applied. These findings suggest that inhibitory actions of NPY, released after seizures, exert a protective effect that reduces the risk of seizure recurrence in the developing brain.

Top Common Differentially Expressed Genes in the Epileptogenic Nucleus of Two Strains of Rodents Susceptible to Audiogenic Seizures: WAR and GASH/Sal

“…The majority of studies describe the NPY acting as an anticonvulsant and report that seizures increase NPY expression in cortical and limbic structures, such as frontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala (31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36). This overexpression is generally considered an adaptive mechanism designed to contain the hyperexcitability underlying epileptiform activity and protect the brain from further insults (32,33).…”

Bilateral reorganization of the dentate gyrus in hippocampal sclerosis

“…24 NPY-immunoreactive fiber sprouting has been reported to correlate with loss of hilar NPY-immunoreactive neurones. 12,23 In our series, fiber sprouting could be seen in the absence of HS (e.g., cases 18, 20, 24, and 25).…”

Functional Heterogeneity of Arcuate Nucleus Pro-Opiomelanocortin Neurons: Implications for Diverging Melanocortin Pathways

“…Importantly, AgRP neurons exclusively colocalize with neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the arcuate nucleus [9-12]. NPY has been associated with several biological activities including learning and memory, nociception, and epilepsy [13,14]; however, NPY has a primary role of stimulating food intake and regulating energy expenditure [15]. Not surprisingly, both POMC and NPY/AgRP neurons integrate various hormones and neurotransmitters, such as leptin, insulin, and serotonin, which are important in the regulation of energy and glucose homeostasis (Fig.…”